Smith to lead House Democrats

Published: Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013 1:32 p.m. CST

DES MOINES — Iowa House Democrats elected State Representative Mark Smith of Marshalltown, an Osceola native and Graceland College graduate, as the new House Democratic Leader earlier this month. The former leader, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of Des Moines, resigned earlier this month to take a position in the Iowa Attorney General’s Office.

“I’m humbled and honored to be chosen by my colleagues to lead Democrats in the Iowa House. We are united as a caucus and ready to win back the majority and rebuild the middle class,” Smith said. “My thanks to Rep. McCarthy for his service to the people of Iowa and our caucus over the last seven years.”

Smith is currently serving his seventh term in the Iowa House from Marshalltown. He was born and raised on his family’s farm near Osceola. He is a graduate of Graceland College in Lamoni and earned a master’s degree in social work from the University of Iowa. He is currently the director of special projects at the Substance Abuse Treatment Unit of Central Iowa. Smith and his wife Karen have one adult daughter and he has two adult foster sons. They have five foster grandchildren.